Meet the Team
Shelley Christensen
Registrar & Support Specialist
Shelley has been a part of AEA Learning Online from the beginning. Her experience with platform troubleshooting, monitoring course enrollments, and helping participants work through problems makes her the friendly voice you likely hear on the other end of the line. Shelley enjoys spending time with her family outdoors, helping with local athletic events, and keeping smiles on the faces of all of her grandkids.
“In the time I’ve been with AEA Learning Online, I have helped thousands of educators & districts be successful. Helping navigate hurdles, overcoming roadblocks, and knowing that I have a direct positive impact on Iowa educators gives me a strong sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.”
Deborah Cleveland
Instructional Designer & License Renewal Coordinator
Deborah’s passion is empowering individuals through learning. She brings a unique blend of expertise to the table, that includes instructional design with a sharp focus on user experience, project management skills that result in high-quality deliverables, and a systems-thinking mindset that allows her to scale learning effectively across diverse audiences. By elevating professional learning for educators, her work contributes to better outcomes for students. Outside of work, Deborah is busy with her three children. She loves to entertain, travel, and snowboard with her family.
“I love operationalizing learning experiences that fit into educators’ daily workflows… allow[ing] them to engage with learning on their own terms—whenever and wherever they choose—making the process more accessible and impactful.”
Marv Howard Ph.D.
Instructional Designer
Marv has been a part of AEA Learning Online from the beginning. His decades of experience in instructional technology and teacher education have allowed him to design and build a solid foundation for the online learning systems offered by AEA Learning Online. When not working Marv enjoys reading, fishing, camping, and listening to live music.
“My philosophy on learning and teaching is built around the concept of employing the appropriate pedagogical approach and instructional technology for the content knowledge being taught. Sometimes that is remote asynchronous learning using a computer; other times it is face-to-face using a textbook. Each situation, and each student, is different.”
Craig Mohr
Director
Since 2012, Craig has been involved in developing high-quality online learning experiences for students and educators. Since joining the AEA Learning Online team in 2017 as an Instructional Designer, he has specialized in LMS management, content delivery, high-use course creation, platform improvements, and identifying opportunities to increase value to Iowa educators & school districts. In his free time, Craig enjoys staying busy with his family, finding an interesting idea to pursue, and catching most of the Packers games.
“The most rewarding part of AEA Learning Online is knowing its impact on Iowa’s educational landscape. Not many states have a service like AEA Learning Online. Efficiently providing value to educators & school districts through a unified online platform as a one-stop-shop for trainings, courses, authorizations, and records is an essential educational service for all Iowans.”
Jacob Welchans
Instructional Designer
Bringing a background in public education and a dual passions for instructional design and technology, Jacob has been part of the team since 2017, specializing in developing content, overseeing the coaching courses, supporting Canvas, and managing projects. Outside of work, he enjoys walks with his dog, Pepper, birdwatching and cooking up something in the kitchen.
“Creating learning experiences, supporting educators and managing projects are all things that bring me satisfaction. Working with the AEA Learning Online team allows me to check all those boxes while still learning from others and gaining new skills.”
Melissa Wicklund
Instructional Designer
Fueled by a love for learning and a passion for helping teachers shine, Melissa joined the team in 2014 after 10 years in public education as an elementary teacher and tech coordinator. She now blends her classroom experience with skills in Canvas, instructional design, project management, and helping elementary teachers stay inspired through a resource-packed statewide newsletter. When she’s not crafting content or supporting teachers, you’ll find her baking cookies, walking her dog, or cheering on her kids at 4-H and bowling events.
“[It’s exciting and rewarding] connecting with individuals to create new learning opportunities that enhance instruction to impact students across the state of Iowa.”